Teen's Piano Practice Isn't Music To Neighbors' Ears

OTHER NEWS TO NOTE - NORTHEAST

May 12, 1993

CLIFFSIDE PARK, N.J. — A teen-age pianist's practice may make her playing perfect, but it's driving some neighbors nuts. David and Beatrice Shenker live a floor beneath 13-year-old Yuka Michitaka and her family, and filed a lawsuit last year contending the girl practices endlessly and her parents won't listen to their complaints. ''After four years of being subject to this, I don't want to wait another single hour,'' said Shenker, an emergency room physician. What we hear is never a full piece or a full stanza. It's just repetitive finger exercises.'' Yuka's parents countersued last summer. They said their daughter, who took third place in a New Jersey competition last month, has done nothing wrong by practicing on her baby grand. They accused the Shenkers of harassing them with angry knocks on their door and loud stereo music.